The Mike Clem Spirit Stein

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So much spirit was displayed at the 2024 Noonan! We had an unprecedented amount of Rookies, all of which were so excited to be there. Most of them loved all the golf courses (all were .500 or better), had a great time at dinner and in the casino, and pitched in to help when needed. The coaches (Mark Smith, Bill Fricke, Tim Fricke and Brent Olson), went above and beyond with team gifts such as $600 Captain Parlay, Logo'd trunk organizers, masseuses, team hats, championship t-shirts and personalized golf balls with their opponents face on them! If that's not spirit, I'm not sure what is! However, at the end of the day, a guy almost 70 years OLDER than the Rookies stepped forward. Gerry Fricke won the Spirit Stein again (2020) because of his participation on the golf course, dinner as well as the casino (92 year old Ger played craps until 11:45 one night)! His best friend is named after the Stein, and now he holds the original and the awarded stein for the next 365 days. Enjoy Ger, we know you will!

There was a lot of "spirit" at the Noonan this year.  Scott Armock shot personal best 71 and was so excited he got a piggy back ride on the back of a Amazon-like volleyball player in the casino. Adam McVeigh had so much fun he had trouble holding onto his bodily fluids one morning. However, one guy stepped up and inspired his team...along with the other team on Friday night at the Noonan. CH Meili (pictured on the very right with two of his teammates) did his best Herb Brooks imitation as he recanted the speech from the movie Miracle for his teammates. The video will most certainly go viral if we can figure out how to upload it to the internet :). CH is not a stranger to this award as he won it back in 2019. CH (with the help of Jim Fricke) took his Captaincy and spirit to a whole new level with various gifts (including towels, hats, shirts, snacks, etc) for his team. He truly earned the Stein and will know doubt put it to good use for the next 12 months. Congrats Big Shooter. Herb would be proud!

This man has done it all at the Noonan....Horserace Champion, Noonan Hall of Famer, Gopher Award Winner...and now he has earned the award that probably means the most to him..The Mike Clem Spirit Stein. Gerry Fricke's best friend in life was Mike Clem (pictured above). The fact that Gerry has earned an award named after Mike is truly appropriate, because Gerry epitomizes the Spirit of the Noonan. Always in a great mood, ready to have fun, and his commitment to the event is unparalelled (19 straight appearances). Gerry helped create the awards program for the 20th Annual Celebration as he spent countless hours designing and creating the videos that recapped the last 20 years. I know I speak for everyone when I say that we all wish we have as much Spirit as Ger when we are 88 years young....if we are all as lucky as Ger to make it that long. Congrats Gerry! This award means a lot to you, and you mean a lot to us!

The 2018 Noonan had a bit of a different feel, as we moved to the Rising Star Sports Ranch. One gentlemen made this transition truly awesome, and for that, Tim Botkin has earned the Mike Clem Spirit Stein Award this year. Tim not only had the beer on ice and the snacks ready for the group when the tour bus arrived, he went above and beyond by sponsoring glass beer mugs and Botkin & Bailey business cards...hilarious and well thought out at the same time! 

He also "sponsored" the Noonan Horserace as evidenced to the picture on the right...The Spirit Stein is alive and well, and it is in the form of Tim Botkin. Congrats Timmy!

Well, it has been fitting that there have been a few Mikes that have won the Mike Clem Spirit Stein Award over the last five years, and this year was no different. This year's recipient of the Mike Clem Spirit Stein Award is none other than 3 time Noonan attendee Mike McCoy (pictured to the right of Mike Quam on the photo to your right). No one has more fun at the Noonan than this guy, who is always ready to cut loose at the course, the bar or the casino. Truly deserving of this award, Mike McCoy continues the tradition of great Mikes! Congrats, McCoy! 

Mike Quam, the 2013 recipient of the Mike Clem Spirit Stein, had the dubious honor of passing on the Stein to it's new recipient. The 2014 winner of the Mike Clem Spirit Stein is none other than Mike Daum (pictured in the photo on the left). That makes two Mikes in a row, so we don't have to get a new key chain for the handle :)! 

Mike Daum's great attitude and jocularity make him a well deserved selection. He is often referred to as the "Clown Prince of the Noonan". Mike Daum always had a special connection with Mike Clem as well, as evidenced by their shaved domes and love for craft beer! Mike has the honor of using this cup for the next 365 days until he bestows it on another worthy Noonan attendee. Enjoy the cup, Mike!